Pilium Audio in action-

[Perfect sense Audio]

How are you Pilium owners doing? It’s been awhile since my last post due to work-life commitments, so I had little time for music until recently.

However, audiophile friends from different corners of the world still keep in touch with me and sharing their stories with gears and music.

Earlier today, a manufacturer of highly respected speakers contacted me, saying that he’s using the same Pilium combo like I have here to drive his speakers and he was amazed by the sound.

Being a manufacturer of highend products, he’s been to all over the places on shows and can literally have any electronics he wants to test and demo his speakers.

He told me that Pilium Atlas and Olympus sound much better than some mega expensive Swiss amps, and of course I appreciate this’s only his subjective opinion.

What we agree is Pilium is insanely powerful, dynamics and literally has no sound signature, particularly when comparing to tubes. It just let music flow freely, naturally and smoothly without interfering in the original recordings.

His speakers are low sensitivity and not easy to drive even with top tubes amps, so the Pilium has truly won his heart today.

As a vocal lover and been using tubes for years, he can’t get away from tubes completely. So he told me that he’ll buy the Atlas then matching a tube pre in between for his own system at home.

We chatted in person for long this year about his to-be-built room at home to accommodate his flagship speakers at nearly $1m, so I believe the Atlas will be there to do the job.

If money ain’t no problem and the plan is to show what you can buy, then Pilium is surely not in the list for you. But for music lovers who are looking for the best possible gears that they can afford, Pilium is surely a strong contender.

My friend can surely get anything he wants, but picking Pilium for himself after trying and hearing so many different amps says a lot about the brand.

I'm a strong believer in using Pilium's own pre amps for optimal synergy, performance and stability. If you feel the urge to have tubes somewhere in the chain, I would rather look at a tube based DAC and/or phono stage.

 

[sonrock]

I’m not sure if he’s going that way as that’s his choice, not mine. I am not going back to tubes and the current combo is here to stay .

I don’t think I will swap the Olympus pre for anything as it’s safer and probably best matching this way. Otherwise I would keep my Koda pre instead.

 

[Rhapsody]

There is a specific reason why the Pilium preamps using the P-link work optimally. The output of the Pilium preamps when using the P-Link do not have a capacitor at the output of the preamp. When you connect a non Pilium amp to a Pilium pre then you use the other balanced output of the Pilium preamp, which does have a cap at the pre output stage.

This direct connection, sans cap, at the output of the Pilium preamp gives the cleanest pure signal at the input of the Pilium amps.

 

[Król_Artur]

There is a specific reason why the Pilium preamps using the P-link work optimally. The output of the Pilium preamps when using the P-Link do not have a capacitor at the output of the preamp. When you connect a non Pilium amp to a Pilium pre then you use the other balanced output of the Pilium preamp, which does have a cap at the pre output stage.

This direct connection, sans cap, at the output of the Pilium preamp gives the cleanest pure signal at the input of the Pilium amps.

Very interesting, so we should actually buy the Pillium pre + amp. Have you compared how big the difference in sound is and how much we lose when connecting to components from other companies?

 

[Rhapsody]

You can even connect the normal balanced output of the Pilium preamps which basically insert a cap at the output and it changes the sound. Some could even prefer the sound with the cap inserted. But to get the magic that Pilium users hear it's almost always with the P-Link being used.

I have connected VAC preamps to the Pilium amps and again, the sound is different, not better or worse.

You have to be careful matching the gain of a non Pilium pre to a Pilium amp. The Pilium preamps have low gain, in the 10-12db gain at the output. The VAC preamps are also around 11db gain at the output.

Conversely, for instance a Kondo preamp has around 25db gain and a Jadis preamp has around 20 db gain at the output. You have to be careful feeding the Pilium amps with too much gain coming from the preamp as when turned up it is possible to damage the Pilium amplifier.

 

[SeagoatLeo]

I'm a strong believer in using Pilium's own pre amps for optimal synergy, performance and stability. If you feel the urge to have tubes somewhere in the chain, I would rather look at a tube based DAC and/or phono stage.

I have the Poseidon DAC to go with my Westminster Labs REI amps and Quest 2 pre-amp. Even my EAR 324 phono pre-amp which is solid state sounds like the best tube sound. Amazing how some solid state equipment emulates tubes as does my Westminster Labs gear. I don't need the Pilium's super power as my speakers are very efficient (96 db 6 ohms) with assisted sub bass driver (Von Schweikert VR9SE Mk2). I've tried lesser quality solid state DACs but the Poseidon with an NOS RCA rectifier is the bomb!

 

[sonrock]

My Maat speakers are somewhere between 100-108db 8ohms, I know I don’t need all the power of the Pilium compared to other options. However, to get the very best out of the speakers is something else and the Pilium is doing a great job.

I’m a CD diehard. I keep buying SACDs every week and sometimes I also get XRCD24, 32 bits UHDCD, UHQCD, K2HD, Ultra Disc etc. so I need a decent, if not one of the best CD transports that can read all these.

Due to my own personal experiences, I won’t go back to tubes regardless of the manufacturers and prices. I did use tubes pres for several years before and love them, particularly with tubes rolling.

However, I don’t think I will go back to that route given most if not all highly respected tubes dac manufacturers don’t do transports. The vivaldi apex stack gives me pretty much everything I ask for at the moment .

 

[SeagoatLeo]

My Maat speakers are somewhere between 100-108db 8ohms, I know I don’t need all the power of the Pilium compared to other options. However, to get the very best out of the speakers is something else and the Pilium is doing a great job.

I’m a CD diehard. I keep buying SACDs every week and sometimes I also get XRCD24, 32 bits UHDCD, UHQCD, K2HD, Ultra Disc etc. so I need a decent, if not one of the best CD transports that can read all these.

Due to my own personal experiences, I won’t go back to tubes regardless of the manufacturers and prices. I did use tubes pres for several years before and love them, particularly with tubes rolling.

However, I don’t think I will go back to that route given most if not all highly respected tubes dac manufacturers don’t do transports. The vivaldi apex stack gives me pretty much everything I ask for at the moment .

I understand. The Vivaldi apex stack is much more expensive than my Jay's Audio CDt3Mk3 with the Poseidon ($30K). I had tube amps, pre-amps, phono pre-amps for 50+ years until I changed.

 

[sonrock]

Sir, I totally understand and know a lot of people using tubes only, with some having a mix somewhere between the chains in their system. Tubes are warm and lush sounding, it’s very easy to fall in love with them.

But some ss amps I’ve listened to, particularly class A, are also very warm and musical plus the dynamics and powers that only very expensive and top end tubes amps can do.

I personally love mixing ss and tubes and I did that before, so I know how things work. But even with all ss boxes with the right setups, music could be equally great and very engaging . It’s just down to the personal preference and taste at a point in time.

 

[SeagoatLeo]

Sir, I totally understand and know a lot of people using tubes only, with some having a mix somewhere between the chains in their system. Tubes are warm and lush sounding, it’s very easy to fall in love with them.

But some ss amps I’ve listened to, particularly class A, are also very warm and musical plus the dynamics and powers that only very expensive and top end tubes amps can do.

I personally love mixing ss and tubes and I did that before, so I know how things work. But even with all ss boxes with the right setups, music could be equally great and very engaging . It’s just down to the personal preference and taste at a point in time.

If those Westminster Labs REIs hadn't come along, I would probably have VAC amps although the similar power would be much larger, hotter and more expensive. VAC top of the line equipment sounds wonderful on Von Schweikert speakers. I listen primarily to acoustic music such as classical instrumental, opera, pop prior to the 1990s, jazz from all periods, rock pre-1990s and many pre-tape era recordings (1900-1948).

 

[sonrock]

I listened to 2 pairs of vac top monoblocks driving the VR speakers in Munich and was utterly impressed by the soundstage as well as dynamics of the system as a whole.

However, the same amps (3 pairs) couldn't deliver the same results on my friend's top speakers and it's my own judgement after spending 2 days listening to them.

I don't know if that's his speakers, the amps, the room or the whole system that failed me albeit it's an incredible system without any doubt. But I didn't feel the slams with visceral impacts at the lowest notes nor the emotional touch when I was there, so I gave him my honest thoughts before saying goodbye, recommended him to try Pilum where and when possible, and now he's decided to get them for his own use.

Like yourself, he listens to a lot of classical music and a vocal lover himself, that's why he loves tubes. But at a much younger age compare to you, he's also listening to other types of music such as electronics, heavy metal, pop, jazz and modern/contemporary music.

I'm even 5--7 years younger than him , so although I listen to all types of music, I tend to push my system to the extreme level with loud volume to get the lifelike presentation in my own room, particularly with rock, electronics and classical.

When I listened to the massive tubes monoblocks driving top devore speakers with varese stack, even at max volume level on both the varese and pre, these amps still not gave me what I want.

With my Pilium, the max volume set on the Olympus is 33, I tend to listen between 16-18 only. Sometimes I go up to 22-25 due to old recordings of classical pieces that tend to have low volume, or as mentioned above, when I was crazy enough to bring the rock band into my room .

We're all different anyway, so it's no right or wrong in choosing what we love and can afford

 

[SeagoatLeo]

I listened to 2 pairs of vac top monoblocks driving the VR speakers in Munich and was utterly impressed by the soundstage as well as dynamics of the system as a whole.

However, the same amps (3 pairs) couldn't deliver the same results on my friend's top speakers and it's my own judgement after spending 2 days listening to them.

I don't know if that's his speakers, the amps, the room or the whole system that failed me albeit it's an incredible system without any doubt. But I didn't feel the slams with visceral impacts at the lowest notes nor the emotional touch when I was there, so I gave him my honest thoughts before saying goodbye, recommended him to try Pilum where and when possible, and now he's decided to get them for his own use.

Like yourself, he listens to a lot of classical music and a vocal lover himself, that's why he loves tubes. But at a much younger age compare to you, he's also listening to other types of music such as electronics, heavy metal, pop, jazz and modern/contemporary music.

I'm even 5--7 years younger than him , so although I listen to all types of music, I tend to push my system to the extreme level with loud volume to get the lifelike presentation in my own room, particularly with rock, electronics and classical.

When I listened to the massive tubes monoblocks driving top devore speakers with varese stack, even at max volume level on both the varese and pre, these amps still not gave me what I want.

With my Pilium, the max volume set on the Olympus is 33, I tend to listen between 16-18 only. Sometimes I go up to 22-25 due to old recordings of classical pieces that tend to have low volume, or as mentioned above, when I was crazy enough to bring the rock band into my room .

We're all different anyway, so it's no right or wrong in choosing what we love and can afford

Well, my wife went with me to the 2017 LAX Audio Show and for the only time, got emotional listening to classical LP and Jazz CD on the $1 to $1.5 million system with multiple VAC amps and the VS Ultra 11 in a huge room. My system isn't at that level yet but I really appreciate having my amps, pre-amp, phono-preamp on 24/7 and the DAC within 3 minutes. I hated waiting until the tubed equipment was ready. My cartridge can take about 10 minutes to have the cantilever loosen to optimal playing condition. I listen to Yello and my wife likes some heavy metal (for me Led Zeppelin, for her Prong which I will not listen to). So my system does everything well as I assume yours does as well. I listen nightly for 2 hours and try to listen more on weekends.

 

[thedudeabides]

I'm even 5--7 years younger than him , so although I listen to all types of music, I tend to push my system to the extreme level with loud volume to get the lifelike presentation in my own room, particularly with rock, electronics and classical.

Hi sonrock. If you are willing to share (I assume you have a meter to measure), what is your typical listening volume level and peaks? Best

 

[itay123]

I’ve already mentioned this before, and emphasized it clearly in post #536.

On a personal note, I know quite a few users (myself included) who tried various preamps with PILIUM power amplification.
However, the moment they paired a dedicated PILIUM preamp via the P-Link connection, it didn’t feel like they simply changed a preamp, it felt as if they upgraded to an entirely different setup.

PILIUM amplification is extremely transparent, highly resolving, and remarkably natural.
You get proper instrument weight, real air between instruments, and zero dynamic compression or saturation, issues that I’ve heard in many expensive components (I won’t mention brands).

If someone wants to introduce a specific flavor or coloration to the system, the front source is the right place to do it. The electronics, preamp and power amp, should reflect, stabilize, and preserve neutrality and silence, ensuring that exactly what goes in is exactly what comes out to the loudspeakers.

 

[sonrock]

Hi sonrock. If you are willing to share (I assume you have a meter to measure), what is your typical listening volume level and peaks? Best

Hello, I don’t have that measurement kit to see how loud I am listening to music.

But when Aldo came here in early 2023 to setup the Maat, he showed me on his ipad when it was pretty loud at over 100db (I think somewhere around that and 103) but everything is just intact with no distortion whatsoever with the sound.

So I guess my normal listening is between 70-90db depending on types of music, time of the day and my moods. Sometimes I go very loud as above.

 

[thedudeabides]

Be careful. Recommend you look at db / time duration guidelines. You may be surprised. You may be OK. You may not. Don't rely on distortion as an indicator. You have too nice a system to not be able to enjoy it (or any in the future for that matter) if you lose your hearing. Once you do, game over. Just a thought. Best.

 

[LL21]

Be careful. Recommend you look at db / time duration guidelines. You may be surprised. You may be OK. You may not. Don't rely on distortion as an indicator. You have too nice a system to not be able to enjoy it (or any in the future for that matter) if you lose your hearing. Once you do, game over. Just a thought. Best.

Agree. Lack of distortion and effortless ability to go loud can be extraordinarily dangerous. Know the GM of a major high end dealer in London who was listening at rock concert levels to the big Wilsons and Krell Evo Ones while working over the weekend setting up for a demo. he said it was so easy to listen to, free of distortion, it was like being in the rock concert. He literally had ringing in his ears the next day...and his hearing never fully came back. He had hearing aids on both ears weeks later.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Well Concert levels is a bit excessive …. !

 

[LL21]

Well Concert levels is a bit excessive …. !

100%…it’s just an anecdote that a seemingly innocent bit of crazy audiophile fun with a super high end system had permanent consequences.

 

[sonrock]

Be careful. Recommend you look at db / time duration guidelines. You may be surprised. You may be OK. You may not. Don't rely on distortion as an indicator. You have too nice a system to not be able to enjoy it (or any in the future for that matter) if you lose your hearing. Once you do, game over. Just a thought. Best.

Thank you for your kind advice Sir, much appreciated and note taken. I used to listen at very loud volume when I first had the Maat then somehow my ears had gone worse. My wife and kids told me so.

Fortunately I was so busy with work and family commitments that I didn’t have much time for music after that or could turn the volume up high, then my hearing got better.

I’ve learned the lesson so I am doing reasonable volume since, like I said around 16-18 in comparison to 20-22 before .

There’s no point to destroy my hearing when having such a nice system to enjoy wonderful music. It’s just dangerous sometimes as music is too nice, particularly at higher volume!